This week, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has commenced the comprehensive, multi-lingual Periodic Assessment Test (PAT-1) across Maharashtra, reflecting a major step in student assessment initiatives.
Starting today, i.e. 10 October to 12 October, 2025 students across the state from Std. 2 to Std. 8 are appearing for the exam.
What are the Maharashtra PAT-1 Exams 2025–26?
Maharashtra is taking a leap in assessing how well its students are actually learning, not just memorising, through the Periodic Assessment Test (PAT). Conducted under the Samagra Shiksha Project, this competency-based test aims to evaluate how effectively students from Std. 2 to 8 have developed essential literacy and numeracy skills expected at each grade level.
The Maharashtra PAT framework consists of three types of assessments:
- Foundation Test
- Comprehensive Assessment Test 1
- Comprehensive Assessment Test 2
For the Comprehensive Assessment Test 1, the question papers are prepared and distributed by the SCERT. This initial phase, PAT-1, will be followed by a second assessment, PAT-2, scheduled for April 2026.
The Core Objective of Maharashtra PAT 2025–26
Maharashtra PAT exam isn’t just another school exam. It’s a powerful tool that helps the state understand where students stand academically and how teaching methods can be improved. The insights collected from PAT are later integrated into the National Achievement Survey (NAS). Which, in turn, gives educators a clearer, data-driven picture of learning outcomes across Maharashtra.
Participation in PAT is mandatory for all Maharashtra government and private aided schools in the state, ensuring that every student’s progress is accounted for.
SCERT Guidelines for Schools Conducting PAT 2025–26
For students of Standards 2 to 8, the written, oral, self-study, and practical exams for all subjects—except Marathi, Mathematics, and English—will be conducted according to the schedule set by each school.
However, schools are instructed not to hold separate exams (written, oral, self-study, or practical) for subjects that are already included in the Periodic Assessment Test (PAT).
This decision by SCERT is a thoughtful step to reduce the academic load on students, ensuring they don’t have to prepare twice for the same subjects.
Maharashtra PAT-1: Administered in Multiple Languages
In a display of Maharashtra's linguistic diversity, the PAT-1 exam is being conducted in ten different mediums, ensuring inclusivity for students across various schooling systems. These mediums include Marathi, Urdu, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali.
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Source
Official Notice by SCERT Maharashtra, 24 September, 2025: click here to read.
Kindly note that any and all information is subject to change as per the SCERT Maharashtra, Education Ministry, and Government of India.
Important Links
| Maharashtra School Education Department Releases 2025–26 Full Academic and Activity Calendar | Maharashtra Schools Revised Timetable Structure Released to Accommodate Third Language |
